In this week’s episode of the Mr. Beacon Podcast, we sit down with Lawrence Richenstein, Founder and CEO of WePower Technologies, to explore how kinetic energy harvesting is reshaping the future of battery-free devices and the Ambient IoT.

Richenstein shares the remarkable story of how, as an angel investor, he discovered a struggling startup with a brilliant yet underdeveloped technology for generating power from motion—and decided to buy the company outright. That bold move became the foundation for WePower Technologies, a company now leading innovation in kinetic energy harvesting. Instead of relying on traditional batteries or external power, WePower’s devices capture energy from simple physical actions like pressing a button or the movement of a magnet—converting that motion into enough energy to drive sensors, microprocessors, and wireless transmissions.

The discussion dives into WePower’s breakthrough products, including a self-powered water leak sensor and battery-free light controller, both capable of transmitting strong, reliable signals without ever needing a battery replacement. Richenstein also explains the company’s licensing model, which focuses on collaboration rather than litigation—helping major OEMs integrate this technology while maintaining strict quality standards.

Beyond the technical details, the conversation touches on the business of innovation, intellectual property strategy, and the entrepreneurial mindset it takes to transform a great idea into a market-ready solution. We also explore how WePower’s work fits into the broader movement toward sustainability, smart infrastructure, and truly ambient connectivity—where devices around us are always on, always connected, and never need charging.

If you’re passionate about IoT, clean tech, or the future of wireless power, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

Lawrence’s Most Meaningful Songs:

• “In My Room” by The Beach Boys: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l71pbhqnvNM
• “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You” by Led Zeppelin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZitPJMh60A
• “Positive Vibration” by Bob Marley: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0DU5uhoq-4

Mister Beacon is hosted by Steve Statler, CEO of ambientChat.ai — Using AI to connect people with places and things with an app that puts you in control of YOUR data..

Our sponsor is Identiv https://www.identiv.com, whose IoT solutions create digital identities for physical objects, enhancing global connectivity for businesses, people, and the planet. We are also sponsored by Blecon http://www.blecon.net. Blecon enables physical products to communicate with cloud applications using Bluetooth Low Energy.